Naren Chitty - Profile
Contact information
Professor Naren Chitty MA, PhD, American University, D.C.
Position: Deputy Dean, Division of Society, Culture, Media & Philosophy, Head of the Department of Interntional Communication and Foundation Chair in International Communication
Office: W6A
Phone: 61-(0)2-9850 8725
Fax: 61-(0)2-9850 9689
Email: naren.chitty@mq.edu.au
Profile
After completing his undergraduate studies he joined a perspective planning program in Sri Lanka's Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs as a UNDP Young Professional. During this time he wrote several 'policy planning notes' including some on the introduction of television to Sri Lanka. A newspaper article of his encouraging the production by famers of programs for themselves, led to Knud Ebbesen, Director of Public Access Radio in Denmark seeking his help through the Sri Lankan government and UNESCO to set up a community radio program in Sri Lanka. From these initial steps has emerged what is now known as Mahaweli Community Radio. Following his UNDP appointment Professor Chitty took on an assignment as Deputy Director of Community Development Services, an NGO in the area of family health and family planning. He was invited to join the Ministry of State (overlooking Information, Broadcasting and Tourism) to advise on the introduction of television. He also served as a director of Independent Television Network at this time. After the introduction of national television in Sri Lanka, he was sent to Washington DC as Counsellor in the Embassy.
Choosing to study while he worked, he completed a Master's degree in International Communication and started on a Ph.D. in International Relations at the School of International Service, American University. He migrated to Sydney in 1988, continuing with his Ph.D. research as an external student. He was awarded the Ph.D. in 1992. He introduced an MA in International Communication at Macquarie University in 1991, in the Department of Media and Communication.
He founded the Journal of International Communication in 1994. Visit its website at www.IC.mq.edu.au/jic. He was elected Secretary General of the International Association for Media and Communication Research in 1996. In 1999 the MA program he directed became a separate Centre and he was elected as Head of the Media Department. In 2001 the Department of International Communication became a University Centre and he opted to devote all his time to it. He was Acting Dean of the Division of Society, Culture, Media & Philosophy from September 2001 to February 2003. In 1999 he was elected president of the Global Communication Research Association. www.IC.mq.edu.au/gcra
Apart from teaching for Macquarie University in Sydney, Singapore and Hong Kong, Professor Chitty has taught for University of South Australia in Singapore and Malaysia and been a Visiting Professor at Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris (2004), Michigan State University and American University (1995)
Outside of academic life, Professor Naren Chitty is completing a first novel and paints in oils.